On May 31, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced via a press release that it selected 11 infectious diseases (ID) programs for the first Joint ID/CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service Fellowship. The programs will serve as options for the ID fellowship track for the joint training program from IDSA and CDC. The programs showed strong relationships with nearby state and local health departments and a detailed focus on public health.
The release states that “With funding from CDC, IDSA launched this joint pilot program for ID physicians who are interested in CDC’s EIS. The four-year pilot program streamlines a career path for applicants interested in both ID and applied epidemiology training, and starts with two years of ID fellowship followed immediately by two years of EIS training. The innovative training allows ID fellows to get an early start on research and collaboration with their EIS assignment.”
That said, “Funding for the pilot program is provided to IDSA under a broader cooperative agreement between the Society and CDC that began in May 2020 with a focus on responding to COVID-19. The collaboration brings numerous medical specialties together to share resources and to provide the latest information and guidance on treating those infected with COVID-19 and preventing its spread. The agreement has also funded the flourishing COVID-19 Real-Time Learning Network, an online center for frontline clinicians to learn, collaborate and share treatment best practices.”
The ID fellowship programs chosen for the pilot program include:
- Emory University School of Medicine
- Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Rush University Medical Center/Cook County Health
- Stanford University School of Medicine
- University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
- University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
- University of Washington
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Weill Cornell/NY Presbyterian
- West Virginia University
Daniel P. McQuillen, M.D., president of IDSA was quoted in the release saying that “Following a transformative year in infectious diseases, medicine and science, the time is now to investigate and control infectious disease outbreaks and train physicians on how to respond to natural disasters and other threats to the public’s health. By selecting these ID fellowship programs for the first joint ID/EIS fellowship program and partnering with the CDC, we are building our community, investing in the next generation of ID physicians and helping to prepare for outbreaks of the future. There has never been a more pivotal time to bring awareness to public and global health research.”
IDSA says the joint fellowship will continue after the pilot program based on the preliminary interest from ID programs, students, and CDC.
